Snowier, colder winter hikes costs for Ohio

COLUMBUS -- Nobody should be surprised to hear that the state of Ohio spent a lot more money on snow removal this winter than last.

Last year's warm, mild winter couldn't have been more different from the winter that won't go away this year. And state spending shows it.

The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/13KHArR ) reports that the Ohio Department of Transportation has spent $79.2 million statewide on snow-and-ice removal this winter. Last year, the agency spent $43.8?million in the state in the same period.

Two years ago, the agency spent about $85 million.

This season, ODOT has spread 720,241 tons of salt on Ohio roads. That's compared with 368,667 tons at this time a year ago.